As Cats make a Posh point, one run comes to an end
Thousands of Sunderland fans will have watched the draw at Peterborough United via live streams or on Sky Sports – but there are those few moments that the cameras don’t capture.
We take a look at some of the moments you might have missed from the League One stalemate – from a record that came to an end to moments that showed everything about Sunderland’s mentality.
CHRIS MAGUIRE IN THE STANDS
With key players returning from injury in all departments, Sunderland’s squad depth is really starting to come to the fore.
And that’ s without the likes of Bailey Wright and Tom Flanagan, who are still to come into the equation in the coming weeks.
But naturally, such depth means that there will always be players who miss out – and at Peterborough, it was Chris Maguire who failed to seal a spot on the bench.
The attacker was at the game, though, having travelled as the extra man in case of any late hitches.
He was a vocal supporter of the side from the stands and chatted with minority shareholderStewart Donald at half time.
Donald was in attendance for the second successive away game, and was again joined by Charlie Methven.
And they were far from alone in the directors’ box at London Road…
KYRIL LOUIS-DREYFUS’ RETURN
Louis-Dreyfus has been a near-regular attendee at games since sealing a take overof the club, but did miss the club’ s last away game at Bristol Rovers.
The chairman had jetted back to Zurich following the draw with Lincoln City in March for a brief trip, meaning he was unable then unable to attend the subsequent game in the South West.
But Louis-Dreyfus was back in the stands at London Road and shared his arrival at Peterborough via Instagram – which certainly delighted supporters, who are no doubt pleased to see the 23-year-old prioritising his time in England with Sunderland.
THE PITCH PRECAUTIONS
Much has been made of Peterborough’s pitch this season, with a burst water main having caused some noticeable damage to the playing surface.
And while the pitch looked sparse in parts upon arrival, it wasn’ t until the game got started where the issues began to show–with the surface quickly cutting-up beneath the feet of the players.
To the credit of Peterborough,they have invested heavily in trying to maintain the surface.
No sooner had the fulltime whistle been blown and the players had exited the pitch was a large tent spread out across the pitch – where fumes can be funnelled to help the surface recover.
A SUBTLE CHANGE TO THE WARM-UP
Lee Johnson had hinted before the trip to Peterborough that the pitch may play a part in his selection decisions, and it was perhaps therefore no surprise that he went with Charlie Wyke and Ross Stewart as a front two.
And it was interesting that the strike duo saw a slight change to their pre-match warm-up at Peterborough.
Usually, Wyke and Stewart would have headed off to take in some shooting practice while the back four worked as a unit and the central midfielders were put through their paces by Jamie McAllister.
But on this occasion, the pair joined-up with Grant Leadbitter and Carl Winchester for a drill which involved the midfielders drilling the ball at awkward heights for Wyke and Stewart, who then had to control and turn.
This was perhaps an indication of how Johnson and his staff felt the game would go, and the two frontmen did indeed spend plenty of the game with their backs to goal.
And it was also no doubt to try and combat a playing a surface which was not conducive to getting the ball down and playing on the deck.
THE STUNNING RUN THAT CAME TO AN END
Key to Sunderland’s 12-game unbeaten run in League One has been a stellar defensive record, particularly away from home.
The last time Lee Burge had conceded a goal on his travels was at Crewe Alexandra, with the Black Cats going 388 minutes (or 6 hours and 28 moinutes) without conceding a goal on the road – until Siriki Dembele slotted home in the second half at London Road.
That’s a superb record, and one which the Black Cats will be looking to restart when they head to Wigan Athletic in their next away game.
THE MOMENTS THAT SHOWED SUNDERLAND’S INTENT
It would have been quite easy for Sunderland to settle for a point at Peterborough, given how the game had panned out and that the result would leave promotion in their own hands.
But that was far from the case – as two key moments proved.
First Aiden McGeady’s reaction to scoring the leveller. There was no celebration, just a plea to get the ball back and get the game restarted.
And then late on in injury time, when head coach Johnson sprinted down the touchline to fetch a ball to ensure Denver Hume could take a quick thrown-in without giving the hosts much time to regroup.
Sunderland sniffed an opportunity and in the final minutes of the game there was only one side looking for the win.
That was indicative of the mentality that Johnson has installed at the Stadium of Light – with the Black Cats constantly striving for more, even in games of a tight nature.
It’s a good mindset to have, particularly at such a pivotal stage of the campaign where everything remains up for grabs.